Length-ways stretchable elastic band

ABSTRACT

A length-ways stretchable elastic band is provided with plural areas of stretchable elastic yarns and elastic silk areas. The elastic yam areas are connected to one another by an elastic silk area formed via length-ways knitting and sewing, such that in said areas, the direction that the elastic silk is knitted vertically intersects or obliquely connects with the direction that the elastic band is to be extended. As such, when the elastic band is under force, it can be expanded both length-ways and width-ways, thereby obtaining a multi-directional extensibility. Meanwhile, the elastic band would have an outer appearance full of unique visual effect like a silk ribbon that makes the elastic band productions more fine and delicate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a length-ways stretchable elastic band structure, which can allow an elastic band to width-ways stretch, as well as lengthways stretch, thereby expanding the stretchable area of the elastic band. The invention can be applied to headgear such as headband and cap band, to accomplish more fitness and comfort for the user.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

When performing hard exercises, women usually utilize a headband to hold their long hair, in order to avoid the hair laid on their forehead from becoming disorderly, as well as to serve as a sweat-absorbing product, particularly for outdoor sports. Generally, a headband is made of fabrics that have good absorption, and is provided with a stretchable elastic band, such that the headband can appropriately fit the user's head, thereby mounting on the user's forehead easily, rather than troublesomely holding the hair by knotting a cloth on the head.

As caps not only can serve the purposes of shading rain and sun, but also can allocate clothing to derive various styles, they are popular to the consumers.

Taking a cap structure for example, the conventional structure of a cap is provided with a peak made of soft plastic, the top of which is combined to a crown having an elastic band at the rear. By way of the tension of the elastic band, the cap can be fitted to users of various head sizes. Therefore, the extensibility of the elastic band is an extremely important requirement of headgear products.

In the prior art under U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,818, the key point of the design thereof is that the elastic band includes a layer of elastic silk structure, such that when the elastic band is pulled by force, the area thereof will expand. However, as the elastic silk is knitted along in a widthwise direction of the elastic band, the length of the elastic silk is as long as that of the headband, rendering the headband to be stretchable width-ways only.

Since the elastic band can only stretch width-ways, it makes the user feel restrained when wearing it on the head, and would gradually feel stressed after a period of time.

Accordingly, the inventor has a motive to improve the elastic bands of the prior to allow the user to wear the elastic band products, such as headband and headgear, comfortably without feeling restrained or stressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a length-ways stretchable elastic band, which can stretch multi-directional, such that when it is mounted on a user's head, the user would feel comfortable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a length-ways stretchable elastic band, which, when being applied to a headband, can be easily bound to the user's forehead for holding the hair and/or absorbing the sweat without heavy pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a length-way stretchable elastic band, which can be applied to headgear, such that the size of the headgear band can be freely adjustable depending on the periphery of the user's head to prevent the headgear from being blown away.

To accomplish the above objects, the elastic band, according to the invention, is provided with plural areas of stretchable elastic yarn and elastic silk areas. The elastic yarn areas are connected to one another by an elastic silk area formed lengthways by knitting and sewing, such that in said areas, the direction that the elastic silk is knitted vertically and intersect or obliquely connects with the direction that the elastic band is to be extended. As such, when the elastic band is forced, it can be expanded length-ways and width-ways, thereby obtaining a multidirectional extensibility. Meanwhile, the elastic band would have an outer appearance full of unique visual effect like a silk ribbon that makes the elastic band productions more fine and delicate.

The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the elastic band according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the elastic band under a widthwise force.

FIG. 3 shows the elastic band under a lengthways force.

FIG. 4 shows the combination of the elastic band to a cap.

FIG. 5 shows the combination of another embodiment of the invention to a cap.

FIG. 6 shows the combination of a further embodiment of the invention to a sun visor.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplified application of the invention, serving as an headband.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention, showing the elastic band in form of oblique knitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, the elastic band 10 of the invention is composed of plural areas of stretchable elastic yarns (11, 12, 13 . . . ) and elastic silk areas 20; formed via knitting sewing. The elastic yarn areas (11, 12, 13 . . . ) may be fabric or fiber having specific and appropriate extensibility, and are connected to one another by an elastic silk area 20 formed by elastic silk 21 via knitting and sewing. While the elastic yarn areas (11, 12, 13 . . . ) are connected to one another via lengthways knitting and sewing, during the process of sewing/knitting every two areas of elastic yarns (11 & 12 or 12 & 13), as shown, the elastic silk 21 therebetween is lengthways knitted from top to bottom, and therefore has a direction X vertically intersects the direction Y that the elastic band 10 is to be extended. Accordingly, when the elastic band 10 is under a force of the user's hands 30, it can be expanded widthways (as shown in FIG. 2) and lengthways (as shown in FIG. 3) depending on the direction of the force exerted thereon, thereby obtaining a multi-directional extensibility. Meanwhile, the elastic band 10 would have an outer appearance full of unique visual effect like a silk ribbon that makes the elastic band productions more fine and delicate.

As depicted above, when the elastic band 10 is under a force, the meshes of the elastic yams (11, 12, 13 . . . ) will expand (as shown in FIG. 3). Nevertheless, any position on the elastic yams (11, 12, 13 . . . ) would not occur any constraint by the lines due to the pulling force exerted to the elastic silk 211. Therefore, when the elastic band 10 is worn by the user, he/she would feel comfortable without any constraint, though, in fact, he/she is wearing an elastic band. Regarding the elastic silk areas 20, they can appropriately expand, no matter they are exerted widthways or lengthways. It is worth a further emphasis that the elastic band 10 would have an outer appearance full of visual effect as elegant as a delicate silk ribbon.

Referring to FIG. 4, the character of the elastic band 10 structure according to the invention can be applied to headgear products. As shown, the elastic band 10 is integrally sewn to the inner rim of a cap 40, such that the elastic band 10 is also serviceable as a sweatband that can be freely adjusted to fit the size of the user's head.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention. The elastic band 10 is sewn to the inner rim of the cap 41 with a area of the rear band left free. Likewise, the elastic band 10 can be serviceable as a sweatband.

As shown in FIG. 6, the invention is applied to a tennis cap (sun visor). The elastic band 10 is sewn to the rear band of the tennis cap for the purpose of binding. As shown in FIG. 7, the invention is applied to a headband. The elastic band 10 is composed of plural areas of elastic yarns (11, 12, 13 . . . ) and elastic silk areas 20 formed via knitting and sewing. The elastic silk areas 20 can be alternatively knitted to form patterns, thereby accomplishing an aesthetic visual effect. Meanwhile, the headband can perfectly fit with the user's forehead.

FIG. 8 shows another preferred embodiment of the invention. The elastic yarns (11, 12, 13 . . . ) can be cut to triangles, such that the sides of each elastic yarn area (11, 12, 13 . . . ) will become oblique. As such, the elastic silk 21 of the elastic silk areas 20 for connecting the oblique sides of every two elastic yarn areas (11, 12, 13 . . . ) should be knitted and sewn in an oblique angle, thereby when the elastic band 10 is under a widthwise force, the elastic silk areas 20 can evenly bear the force.

Concluded above, the present invention can improve the disadvantages existing in the prior art that the force exerted thereon would only focus on a certain position. Furthermore, in view of the fact that the elastic silk areas 20 can be knitted in various directions, the outer appearance of the elastic band 10 may have variations for matching with various clothing styles. Accordingly, the utility of the invention, such as application to headgear products including caps and headbands, is doubtless.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A lengthways stretchable elastic band, composed of plural areas of stretchable elastic yams and elastic silk areas which are formed via knitting and sewing, characterized in that: the elastic yarn areas are connected to one another by an elastic silk area formed via lengthways knitting and sewing; in said areas, the direction that the elastic silk is knitted interests the direction that the elastic band is to be extended.
 2. The lengthways stretchable elastic band according to claim 1, wherein the elastic yarns may have an identical width.
 3. The lengthways stretchable elastic band according to claim 1, wherein the elastic yarns may have various widths.
 4. A lengthways stretchable elastic band, composed of plural areas of stretchable elastic yams and elastic silk areas formed via knitting and sewing, characterized in that: the elastic yarn areas are connected to one another by an elastic silk area formed via oblique knitting and sewing. 